Beurs van Zocher tijdens de sloop, Amsterdam 1903

This photograph of the Beurs van Zocher during demolition, Amsterdam, freezes a moment of dramatic transition. The whole thing is printed in grayscale, and that limited palette is really working. The grey skies are emphasized against the lighter stone. You have to wonder what the weather was like that day and if it contributed to the demolition. The rough texture of the old building contrasts with the smooth lines of the tracks in the foreground. It’s almost as if the tracks are more 'important' than the building. The facade, with its classical columns, is softened by the haze of dust and smoke. You know, there’s something about seeing a grand old building come down that reminds me of Piranesi’s etchings of Roman ruins. It’s that sense of time passing, of civilizations rising and falling, and the beauty that can be found even in decay.